1. health and fitness

Minnesota Health Action Group
Minnesota Health Action Group
Taking Action
April 17, 2015
Don’t Miss Out! Add These Dates to Your Calendar:
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May 21, 2015: All-Member Meeting: Summary of Phase I Specialty Pharmacy Care Delivery
Learning Network
July 15, 2015: Minnesota Bridges to Excellence (MNBTE) Recognition Event
November 16-18, 2015: National Business Coalition on Health 20th Annual Conference
Welcome Message From Action Group President and CEO, Carolyn Pare
Thank you for joining us for the 8th Annual Employer Leadership Summit! I’m glad you’re here,
and look forward to sharing a full day of inspiring presentations and conversations with you.
Today, we bring together local, national and international health care and benefits thought
leaders to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing purchasers today. If you are not yet
an Action Group member, I hope you will consider becoming one so you can take advantage
of the many initiatives and learning opportunities available exclusively through membership.
I would also like to take a moment to thank our outgoing Board members, Karen Chapin,
Gretchen Lennon, and Charlie Montreuil, for their service, and I invite you to join me in
congratulating our new Board members:
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Nathan Moracco, Chair, State of Minnesota Employee Insurance Division
Ken Horstman, University of Minnesota
Deidre Serum, Best Buy Company
Jeremy Zajicek, Hennepin County
Jeremy will soon be leaving to pursue a new career as assistant pastor and school
administrator for his church. We are grateful for his willingness to serve on the Board and
wish him well! If you are interested in being considered for the vacant Board position, please
contact me. I welcome your calls and emails ([email protected]; 952-896-5185).
Coming Soon! Specialty Pharmacy Care Delivery Learning Network Phase II
The Action Group’s Specialty Pharmacy Care Delivery Learning Network kicked off last October.
This topic was selected in response to the prediction that costs for specialty medications are
projected to quadruple between 2012 and 20201 with over 900 new drugs in the pipeline2.
Are you finding
today’s quick-poll
questions unique
and interesting?
Much of the content
comes from our
annual Benefits
Survey, the only
one of its kind.
Over 40 employers
representing nearly
260,000 Minnesota
employees
participated. The
survey is open to
members and nonmembers! Contact
The Action Group for
more information.
TM
Spotlight on:
Specialty Pharmacy
Shining the light on purchaser cost and quality expectations
Identifying Challenges
Becoming Informed
More organizations than ever before joined this Learning Network, including representatives
from 3M; Best Buy; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota; Carlson Companies; Emerson/
Rosemount; HealthPartners; Hennepin County; Land O’ Lakes; Mills Fleet Farm; Minnesota
Management & Budget – SEGIP & PEIP; Park Nicollet; SUPERVALU; Thrifty White; University of
Minnesota; U.S. Bank; and Wells Fargo.
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2
CVS Caremark Insights 2013
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Medicines in development: biologics.
(Continued next page)
Understanding Distribution and
Reimbursement
Defining Action Steps
Influencing the Marketplace
(Continued from page 1)
As the group neared the end of its key informant meetings, participants unanimously agreed
that they had only scratched the surface of specialty pharmacy issues facing employers. As
such, this Learning Network has been granted an extension of six months.
Specialty pharmacy
has been called the
“new gold rush” due
to the large number
of new drugs and
the high demand
for them, coupled
with the fact that no
one is responsible
for holding drug
makers accountable
to rational pricing
practices.
“We are hoping all Action Group employer members will choose to participate in Phase II,
where we will develop action steps employers can take alone and collectively,” says Carolyn
Pare, president and CEO of The Action Group. “To influence change in the marketplace,
purchasers must collaborate. That’s where the power lies.”
Even if you were not a part of Phase I, or you are a new member, you are invited to join Phase
II. We will be offering a Specialty Pharmacy Boot Camp to get you up to speed on everything
we learned during Phase I. For more information, please contact Carolyn Pare (952-896-5185)
or Linda Davis (952-484-7970).
Minnesota Health Action Group Purchaser’s Guides
To date, we have
completed four
member-exclusive
Purchaser’s Guides:
The Action Group is the only Minnesota organization whose sole purpose is to represent the
collective voice of those who pay the bill for health care—employers, public purchasers, and
individuals. Through its Care Delivery Learning Networks, all Action Group employer members
are invited to take a deep dive on how to increase the value of health care goods and services
that are subject to high cost, variability, and overuse or inappropriate use. Each Learning
Network typically occurs over a six-month period, with monthly meetings that explore
various facets of the topic at hand. The resulting Employer Purchaser’s Guides help members
shape their benefit strategies and influence essential marketplace change to help ensure the
economic vitality of all Minnesota communities.
• Back Pain and
Surgery
• Maternity and
Infertility Care
• Total Joint
Replacement
• Specialty
Pharmacy Phase I
Help Wanted: NDPP Project Coordinator
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is contracting with the Minnesota Health
Action Group to engage employers and insurers in four funded communities to make the
National Diabetes Prevention Program (cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/index.htm) a covered
benefit for employees. To support us in this work, we are seeking a temporary, part-time
Project Coordinator to create the employer section of the NDPP toolkit. Ideally, we’re
looking for a graduate student pursuing a master of science in health communication,
health care marketing, health care marketing communications, or similar field of study. Visit
mnhealthactiongroup.org to see the full job description, along with a guest blog about the
program by the Minnesota Department of Health’s Gretchen Taylor.
Complimentary Registration for Action Group Members:
NBCH 20th Annual Conference
S PONSORSHIP L EVELS
This year’s NBCH Annual Conference, Achieving Health Care Value: No Purchaser is an Island,
will be held in Dallas, TX, November 16-18, 2015. Action Group employer members are
welcome to register without a fee, which is normally $850 for non-members and $500 for
members. Visit www.mnhealthactiongroup.org to learn more and to register (there are special
registration instructions for Action Group members).
Sponsorship Level
Elite
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
$35,000
$25,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
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Keynote speaker (2 available)
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NBCH coalition /employer session
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General program support
NBCH Coalition Membership Award
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NBCH Employer Excellence Award
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Health Plan Innovation Awards
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Reception in exhibit hall (day 1 or 2)
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Conference carry-all bags
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Conference program guide
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Lanyards
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NBCH Board of Governors dinner
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Luncheon in exhibit hall
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Breakout sessions
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Portable phone charger with logo
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Conference flash drive
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Breakfast in exhibit hall (2 available)
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Refreshment break (3 available)
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1
50% off 1
registration
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Company name & logo on signage &
screens during event
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Listing in official meeting-related
communications
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Complimentary registration(s)
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3
2
Company name & logo on event
website
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The Minnesota Health Action Group is the only Minnesota organization whose sole purpose is to represent the collective voice of those who
pay the bill for health care—employers, public purchasers, and individuals. We drive innovation, collaboration and engagement in ways
that improve health care and ensure the economic vitality of all Minnesota communities.
Exhibit booth (8’x10’)
Ad in meeting program guide
Complimentary
50% off
25% off
Full page
Full page
Half page
More information is at http://www.nbch.org/2015-Annual-Conference